Did The Economist know of Russian protests in advance?

In 2017, Russia commemorates 100 years since the Russian revolution. In 2016, The Economist publication interviewed Maria Alyokhina, member of punk protest group Pussy Riot, to reflect on what the year may hold in store for Russia.

"I think next year, all their discourse about the revolution, will be that, everything which was made for building another world, is totally wrong, and we should live in this conservative heaven forever. Which is of course bullshit."

The quote doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but the implication is evident. President Putin is an analogy of a Tsar, against which "the masses" will rise up, to "see the light" in something else.

"It will be an awkard anniversary for Putin - he'll have to square Russia's historical worship of Lenin with his regime's aversion to any dissent." - says The Economist.

Without delving too much into sociological context, unlike in 1917 - there is no coherent ideology, as an alternative, to Putin's government. Some may argue, that is where NGO-propped, "liberal" students protesting in the streets - with few coherent claims - have their part to play.

As for Ms. Alyokhina herself; in 2012, the punk band “Pussy Riot” took on the role of a marionette of Western propaganda against the Russian state. Its mandate was to attack the "human rights record” of the Russian government.

That year, the members of Pussy Riot stormed into a Moscow Cathedral, defaming the government, while mocking the beliefs of church-goers with vulgarity and disruptive behaviour. They received a 2 year sentence in the process, but were released early in 2013 – only to cause a scene at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

They interviewed on CNN about their ordeal. The Pussy Riot performance was marketed as an act of “freedom of expression” by the Western media, but constituted what would be called both a religious hate-crime and disorderly conduct in any Western country. Similar cases have played out in the West, where perceived violation of free speech of bigots, racists, and hooligans resulted in very harsh penalties.

"What if Pussy Riot did the same in a synagogue or an Islamic temple?" - asked Putin.